Harris was a paramedic for 13 years, but after handling the case of a double-murder in 2012 and its resulting court case, something changed. Her loved ones noticed the symptoms long before she did. She explains the mental injury eventually led to a drug overdose.

“I never thought that this would happen to me. It turned into an overdose before I realized how sick that I was.”

Part of it was denial. She says she didn’t want to face the reality that she may never be a paramedic again — a job she loved.

“Being able to be that person who helps someone in their time of emergency is a gift that you really can’t understand unless you do it.”

Natalie Harris with two coworkers.

Supplied Natalie Harris

Now, Harris spreads awareness about first responders who live with PTSD on her blog, “Paramedic Nat’s Mental Health Journey.” She also wrote a book called Save-My-Life School: A first responder’s mental health journey.

It’s a cause close to Harris’s heart, and one that deserves all the attention it can get.

In an email response to Global News, Public Safety Canada explained it is conducting research and has held round-table discussions on the issue.

“Public Safety Canada (PS) continues to work closely with a broad stakeholder community, including all levels of government, public safety stakeholders (e.g. associations of first responders) academia, mental health professionals, and not-for-profit organizations, to develop a co-ordinated action plan on post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI) in support of public safety officers,” the email read.

TEMA’s founder and executive director, Vince Savoia, says the Doherty’s bill is just one step in the right direction.

Savoia, a former paramedic who battled with PTSD himself, says the bill is more about awareness and research, and less so about treatment options.

“The bill was designed to basically bring attention to post-traumatic stress disorder, and to basically invoke or call for more research, more evidence-based type research and training, and treatment,” he said.

WATCH: Living with PTSD — A soldier’s story

Savoia wants politicians to focus on presumptive disability legislation, which several provinces still don’t have.

Presumptive disability removes the burden of proof from a first responder struggling with PTSD.

“It is automatically assumed that the post-traumatic stress disorder was in direct relation to the work they did. Prior to presumptive disability, they needed to pinpoint a certain incident that would have caused PTSD.”

Savoia explains that the assumption removes one lengthy and emotionally gruelling step for those seeking help.

But presumptive disability is one aspect of making help more readily available.

WATCH: Edmonton service dog to assist first responder with PTSD

Savoia adds that while seeking help, many first responders face financial challenges.

And stigma is another monster.

Opening up the conversation surrounding mental health and first responders is a challenge that Kevin Davison is tackling through song.